Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts slow-cooked with broccoli in a rich, creamy cheddar sauce. An easy, comforting meal ready in 4 hours.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 1 head)
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dairy

05 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
06 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 1/2 cup sour cream
08 - 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)

→ Pantry

09 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 tsp paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
14 - 2 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

# Directions:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Top with chopped onions, garlic, and broccoli florets distributed evenly.
02 - Whisk together chicken broth, cream cheese, sour cream, milk, Dijon mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until completely smooth and combined.
03 - Pour sauce mixture evenly over chicken and vegetables. Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours or low setting for 6–7 hours until chicken registers 165°F internally.
04 - Thirty minutes before serving, shred or slice chicken directly in the slow cooker. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated throughout.
05 - For thicker consistency, mix cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to form slurry. Stir into slow cooker and cook additional 15–20 minutes until sauce reaches desired thickness.
06 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with additional cheddar or fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce develops this incredibly rich flavor that tastes like you spent hours stirring at the stove
  • Its practically foolproof even my teenager can make this without disaster
  • The leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Dont lift the lid too often or youll add significant cooking time
  • The broccoli should be tender but still have some bite not mushy
03 -
  • Cut your broccoli into uniform florets so everything finishes cooking at the same time
  • Let the cream cheese soften completely before whisking to avoid lumps in your sauce

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